American - aphis.usda.gov...Around-the-clock harassment patrols may be necessary especially where pelicans forage at night. The most effective technique involves harassing the birds

Tommy King

Research Wildlife Biologist

USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services

National Wildlife Research Center

Starkville, Mississippi

Human-Wildlife Conflicts

American white pelicans (Pelecanus

erythrorhynchos, Figure 1) threaten

aquaculture producers by direct predation

and the spread of disease. They are also

considered competition and a nuisance by

some sports fishermen. Pelicans can also

damage pond levees and crops, such as

rice, by trampling the vegetation and

depositing guano. A combination of wildlife

damage management techniques is often

necessary to reduce pelican damage to

these resources.

Aquaculture

Prior to the winter of 1992, American white

pelican depredations at catfish facilities in

the Delta regions of Arkansas and

Mississippi were limited, and birds were

easily dispersed from the area. Since

1992, however, pelicans have become

more persistent in their foraging efforts

and more difficult to disperse. Their

increased persistence requires an equally

persistent response to limit their damage.

Around-the-clock harassment patrols may

be necessary especially where pelicans

forage at night. The most effective

technique involves harassing the birds at

their loafing sites near catfish farms. This

often causes them to abandon the site,

thus reducing or eliminating predation at

nearby facilities.

The impact of direct pelican predation on

catfish farms can be substantial. For

Wildlife Damage Management

Technical Series

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service

Wildlife Services

May 2019 American White Pelicans

Figure 1. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Quick Links

Human-Wildlife Conflicts 1

Damage Identification 2

Management Methods 2

Economics 6

Species Overview 7

Legal Status 11

Glossary & Key Words 12

Resources 13

Appendix 14

example, assuming that pelicans foraging in a catfish pond

ate only catfish averaging 10.2 inches, each bird would

require 11 catfish to meet its energetic requirement of 2

pounds per day. This consumption rate translates into

2,750 catfish consumed per day by an average-sized flock

of 250 pelicans. If these fish reached a harvestable size of

1.5 pounds and were valued at $0.70 per pound, catfish

farmers could lose approximately $2,900 per day from

pelican foraging. Actual depredation losses depend on

pelican abundance at ponds, the size and number of

catfish eaten, and the duration of foraging at catfish

ponds.

Pelicans are also a host of commercial catfish parasites,

especially the digenetic trematode Bolbophorus

damnificus. This trematode causes substantial economic

losses to aquaculture producers in Louisiana, northwest

Mississippi, and southeast Arkansas. Whole ponds of

catfish have died from trematode infections, and little can

be done to treat these infections. Even mild infections of B.

damnificus can result in a 60 percent or more reduction in

profits. A 2004 analysis of the economic impact of

trematode infections to commercially-raised catfish in

Mississippi estimated economic losses of $27.1 million per

year.

Landscapes and Crops

American white pelicans can damage pond levees and

recently planted crops, such as rice, by trampling the

vegetation and depositing guano, although the extent of

these losses is not known.

Nuisance

Pelicans are perceived as nuisance wildlife by

aquaculturists and sports fishermen because of their

predation of farmed fish or sport fish prized by anglers.

Human Health and Safety

Pelicans are not known to transmit any significant diseases

to people. However, they can threaten human safety when

they collide with aircraft.

Damage Identification

The main ways to determine if pelicans have foraged on

aquaculture ponds include direct observations of pelicans

on ponds, fish losses at harvest, and the presence of B.

damnificus. Direct observations of pelican predation may

not always be possible because pelicans will forage at

night, especially on aquaculture facilities with active

daytime harassment programs.

Other signs of pelican presence include trampled

vegetation and crops, large webbed tracks, and guano-

stained (whitewashed) landscapes.

Management Methods

No single management method to prevent pelican conflicts

works all the time or in all settings. Methods should be

integrated so that one enhances the effect of another. For

example, frightening devices often are more effective when

done in conjunction with habitat modification (e.g., removal

of loafing habitat) to make a site less attractive to pelicans.

American white pelicans typically migrate northward to

their breeding grounds during spring and return to the

Figure 2. Pelicans on catfish farm.

Page 2 WDM Technical Series─Pelicans

southeast U.S. during late fall. However, in recent years

flocks of about 500 pelicans frequently have been seen in

southeast aquaculture areas throughout the summer.

These birds may represent non-breeding pelicans. Most

wintering pelicans remain in the southeastern U.S. from

late fall through mid-spring. Pelicans foraging on

aquaculture facilities during spring migration seem to be

more tenacious foragers and more difficult to disperse

from an area. Intensive, integrated management methods

must be used.

Habitat Modification

Pelicans can be encouraged to abandon a loafing site if

water is removed (e.g., drain flooded fields). Other habitat

modifications may include eliminating open wetland sites

by planting perennial woody vegetation.

Exclusion

Exclusion involves physically blocking a bird’s access to a

site and is an important part of pelican damage

management. Exclusion may prevent pelican predation on

fish and the spread of disease. Selection of a barrier

system depends on the size of the facility and whether the

barrier interferes with other operations. Also consider

whether it can be easily damaged in severe weather or if it

impacts the aesthetics of the area.

Take care to construct barriers so they do not become a

hazard to non-target birds, especially threatened and

endangered species. The barrier material should be visible

to birds to minimize accidental entrapment and/or injury.

Avoid using loosely hung, small mesh netting, such as mist

netting, as it will cause excessive bird losses.

Although often cost prohibitive, near total exclusion can

eliminate up to 90 percent of pelican access to individual

ponds. One aquaculture producer in southern Mississippi

used a combination of overhead grid wires (Figure 3),

perimeter electric fencing, and harassment to exclude

about 90 percent of brown pelicans (Pelecanus

occidentalis) from landing or entering his fish ponds. The

producer reported a cost of nearly $3 million to set up the

devices at five, 6-acre ponds.

In general, enclosing ponds and raceways to exclude all

fish-eating birds requires 1- to 2-inch mesh netting secured

to frames or supported by overhead wires. In addition,

gates and other openings must be covered. In areas with

harsh winter conditions, nets must have an adequate

framework or support cables to prevent ice or snow

accumulation from ripping the netting.

Some hatchery operators use mesh panels placed on the

raceway walls above the water to effectively exclude birds.

Secure small mesh wire or net less than 1 inch to wood or

pipe frames to prevent feeding through the panel. Design

panels to accommodate demand or automatic feeders and

feed blowers that distribute food through mesh-covered

raceways. Since panels may interfere with feeding,

cleaning, or harvesting operations, they may be more

appropriate for seasonal or temporary use.

All exclusion structures must be strong enough to prevent

the weight of large birds and their activities from making

the net sag to within feeding distance of the water.

Construct all exclusion structures to allow use of fish

maintenance equipment and, if necessary, to withstand

wind and the accumulation of snow and ice. Non-rigid

exclusion structures, such as suspended netting, may need

lines, pulleys, and counterweights to facilitate lifting and

lowering during adverse conditions or maintenance.

Page 3 U.S. Department of Agriculture

Figure 3. Example of grid wires at a fish farm.

Since complete exclusion may not always be practical,

other barrier techniques may help to limit pelican access to

ponds with tradeoffs. For instance, nets suspended over

catfish farm levees can prevent pelican depredation, but

may be impractical as most catfish farm levees are not

wide enough to accommodate both the support structures

for nets and vehicle access. Plastic and wire grids over

catfish ponds can deter pelican flocks from landing and

taking off, but often do not exclude individual birds. Some

success with simple parallel overhead wires spaced on 26-

foot centers has been reported, but in other studies, birds

simply landed on the levees and walked under the wires

into the ponds.

Frightening Devices

Frightening devices modify behavior and discourage birds

from feeding, roosting or gathering. Pelicans forage mainly

during early morning and late afternoon and loaf during

mid-day. However, pelicans quickly adapt to standardized

harassment schedules. American white pelicans are

typically diurnal foragers, but have been known to forage at

night, especially in areas with daytime harassment. For

instance, pelicans have been seen leaving a loafing site to

time their arrival and departure when harassment

personnel are on lunch breaks. Alternating harassment

timing and methods typically is most effective.

Visual

In south Louisiana, bright spotlights have been used

successfully to disperse foraging pelicans from catfish

ponds at night.

Audio-visual

Pyrotechnics can be effective in dispersing pelicans from

foraging and loafing sites (Figure 4). Possession and use of

pyrotechnics may require a permit from the local, county,

and/or state fire marshal. Harassment by personnel on

foot, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), boats, or other vehicles

combined with pyrotechnics can be effective. Lethal

reinforcement is often necessary when pelicans become

habituated to other techniques, such as pyrotechnics and

propane canons. As pelicans begin to ignore harassment

techniques, shooting one or two pelicans often will cause

the entire flock to leave the area.

Egg Oiling/Addling and Nest Destruction

Pelicans are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

(MBTA). Removal of nests, egg oiling or addling, and any

human activity in nesting colonies during the breeding

season are regulated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(USFWS) and state/provincial agencies.

Repellents

No repellents are currently registered for use with pelicans.

Shooting

In the U.S. and Canada, American white pelicans are

protected by the MBTA. As authorized by the MBTA, the

USFWS issues permits to qualified applicants for the take

of depredating birds. Local, state and federal regulations in

regards to firearms and the take of pelicans must be

reviewed and followed. See the section on Legal Status.

As with all firearms, make sure it is safe to discharge a

firearm in a particular area. Because American white

pelicans are large birds, accuracy is essential to ensure

immediate death. Dispatch wounded birds quickly. Use a

shotgun, 12-gauge or larger, with T-shot or larger


Figure 4. Pyrotechnics are used to disperse foraging pelicans.

ammunition. Use a centerfire rifle of .22-cal or larger (e.g.

.223, .22-250) for shooting individual birds. Shot birds

should be disposed of as soon as possible in accordance

with permit instructions. Leaving bird carcasses on a

facility can attract predators, may be illegal, and generally

is viewed as poor management.

Toxicants

No toxicants are currently registered for use with pelicans.

Trapping

Foothold Traps

Modified padded foothold traps, such as the Victor No. 3

Softcatch, are effective in capturing pelicans and other

wading birds (Figure 5). Replace the factory springs with

the springs of the weaker Victor No. 1.5 Softcatch to lessen

the initial impact of the closing jaws on the pelican’s leg. In

addition, replace the factory chain with an 8-inch length of

0.15-inch aircraft cable and a 12-inch elastic shock-cord to

minimize injury to captured birds. Attach additional box

and stake swivels to increase the flexibility of the swiveling

system.

Set these modified foothold traps in areas of high bird

densities—typically flooded fields, pond levees, or loafing

sites near colonies. Traps set in the water should be

completely submerged, but in water shallow (3-6 inches)

enough that birds could step into them. Slowly approach

potential capture sites, flush the birds, and set traps 10 to

13 feet apart along transects. Drive trap stakes flush with

the substrate, and conceal the elastic shock cords and

swivels by pushing them into the mud or covering them

with sediment. On land, set traps within 3 feet of the

water's edge. Traps on levees can be set using a basic dirt-

hole set similar to that used for coyotes. Once set, traps

should be monitored constantly. Captured animals should

be removed from traps immediately. When properly used,

these modified traps are safe and humane for capturing

pelicans.

Each modified trap currently costs about USD $30.

Rocket Nets

A portable rocket net can be modified by building a box out

of 0.12-inch aircraft aluminum (Figure 6). The box, net, and

rockets can be set in water 0.8 to 1.6 inches deep with the

opened end of the box angled out of the water. This system

can be used on an exposed mud flat, pond levee, or other

loafing site. Fold the net into the box prior to placing it at

the capture site. Large nets (60 x 40 feet or 50 x 30 feet)

with 2 to 4 rockets can be used depending on the box

design. The net, stakes, and rockets can be stored in the

box and the entire device easily transported by two people

or by an ATV. The box, rockets, charges, and net currently

cost about $2,250.

As with other fish-eating birds, American white pelicans are

attracted to bodies of water containing sick or dying prey.

However, pelicans wintering in the southeast U.S. are wary

of people; thus, developing and maintaining a bait site to

attract birds to traps has proven very difficult.

The use of foothold traps and/or rocket nets requires

permits from the USFWS and state wildlife agencies. The

use and storage of rocket net charges may be controlled by

the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration,

U.S. Department of Transportation, and U.S. Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.


Figure 5. A modified padded foothold trap for use with pelicans.


Figure 6. Portable rocket net system.

Handling

Be careful when approaching live pelicans. Pelicans are

large birds and have sharp edges along their upper bill.

One of the pelican’s defense mechanisms is to snap or

bite. The edges of the bill can cause knife-like cuts. Grab a

live pelican first by its bill (both upper and lower) using one

hand and do not allow the bill to move in your hand.

Relocation

Relocation is the movement of an animal from one location

in its home range to another location within the same

home range for the purpose of resolving a human-wildlife

conflict. Only two known attempts have been made to

relocate pelicans from a damage site. Both attempts had

good short-term success, but their long-term usefulness is

not known. Pelicans captured and relocated 12 miles from

one aquaculture facility did not return to the facility for at

least 3 weeks.

Euthanasia

Euthanasia recommendations are intended to serve as

guidelines, and they require the use of professional

judgment for specific situations. Ultimately, it is the

responsibility of those carrying out euthanasia to assure

that it is done in the most humane manner possible.

Shooting and chemicals (i.e., carbon dioxide gas, lethal

injections) are approved methods of euthanasia for large

birds, such as pelicans.

Disposal

Take of migratory birds is regulated by the Migratory Bird

Treaty Act, and instructions for disposition of carcasses are

usually provided under USFWS permit conditions.

Economics

Pelicans have the potential to cause extensive economic

losses at catfish ponds. If allowed to land on catfish ponds,

they immediately begin to forage. Therefore, make every

(legal) effort to prevent flocks from landing. Lack of

vigilance and harassment during a mid-day break or at

night may allow substantial damage to take place despite

other management efforts.

Although the costs of pelican damage management have

not been thoroughly assessed, during November 1994 to

April 1995, one catfish farmer in southern Louisiana

estimated his costs for pyrotechnics, ammunition, and

labor for pelican harassment to be $129,000 with an

additional $13,000 spent for extra road and vehicle

maintenance. Despite these expenditures, this farmer lost

about $31,000 in fish to American white pelican predation.

Without persistent harassment efforts, those losses would

have been much higher. Losses due to disease

transmission can be much more devastating to producers.

Losses from B. damnificus to Mississippi catfish producers

have been estimated at $45 million per year.

Species Overview

Identification

The American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is

one of two pelican species native to North America. The

other, known as the brown pelican (P. occidentalis, Figure

7) forages in coastal aquaculture settings, but has not

been reported foraging at inland aquaculture facilities. This

publication focuses on the American white pelican and

damage management associated with inlands aquaculture

resources.

Physical Description

American white pelicans are mostly white with black

primary and secondary feathers. Their bills and legs vary in

color with age. Young pelicans have pale, gray-pink bills

and legs while adults have yellow to orange-red bills and

legs (Figure 8). During the breeding season, adult pelicans

develop a horny knob on the culmen (bill) and pale

yellowish feathers on the chest and upper wing. When

sleeping or standing (loafing), pelicans appear to have

squat bodies with long necks.

The American white pelican has a large gular (throat)

pouch to capture and manipulate prey, a long bill with

sharp edges and a small hook (or nail) at the tip. It also

has webbed feet and is a strong swimmer. American white

pelicans have the widest wing span of any bird in North

America (96 to 114 inches). In flight, pelicans appear

graceful and soaring. Males are typically heavier than

females, averaging 14.3 and 11.2 pounds, respectively.

The weight range for males is 11 to 18 pounds. The weight

range for females is 9.3 to 13.7 pounds.

Range

The continental divide separates American white pelicans

into two geographically distinct populations. The eastern

population migrates primarily through the Great Plains and

along the Mississippi River and winters in the lower

Mississippi River Valley and along the Gulf Coast. The

western population migrates along the Pacific coast and

winters along the coast of southern California and western

Mexico.

The breeding range of the American white pelican extends

from south-central British Columbia, Alberta,

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and southwestern Ontario

southward to Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South

Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada,

California, and Oregon (Figure 9). One viable American

white pelican colony of approximately 400 exists near

Corpus Christi, Texas in the Laguna Madre.


Figure 8. Young (left) and adult (breeding) American white pelicans

Figure 7. Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Voice and Sounds

Adults are silent except for low, short grunts typically given

during aggressive, defensive or sexual interactions with

other pelicans. Young pelicans (prior to fledging and at the

colony) are more vocal with loud squawks and food-

begging calls. Non-vocal sounds include wings splashing

water when bathing or herding prey, and popping of the bill

during combative encounters.

Tracks and Signs

Pelicans have large webbed feet, 6½ to 7½ inches long

and 4¼ to 5⅜ inches wide that trample vegetation down

to the soil in heavily trafficked areas. Loafing sites have

large quantities of white-colored excrement and large

feathers. Loafing sites vary in size depending on the

number of birds present.

Reproduction

Pelicans are believed to breed at three years of age. The

breeding period typically is mid-April through mid-


Figure 9. Range of American white pelicans.

September. Nest building takes 3 to 5 days after the onset

of courting. Egg laying begins about 4 to 5 days after nest

site selection, with an interval of 2 days between eggs.

They have one clutch of 2 eggs per year. Smaller clutches

often are due to egg loss from predation. Only one young

typically survives to fledging, due to asynchronous hatching

and siblicide (i.e., one young bird kills the other). Average

documented nest success ranges from 0.34 to 0.89 young

fledged per nest. It is not known if pelicans re-nest

following the loss of a clutch early in the season. Eggs

hatch approximately 30 days after being laid and the

chicks fledge approximately 10 weeks later. Both sexes

attend the nest and young.

American white pelicans are ground nesters and prefer

remote, isolated islands for colony sites. These breeding

sites vary from nearly barren to densely vegetated, but are

usually near water. Nests are typically shallow depressions

on the ground with a small raised edge made from the

adult raking gravel, soil, or vegetation with its bill (Figure

10).

Mortality

Approximately 41 percent of fledged American pelicans die

in their first year, 16 percent during their second year, and

21 percent thereafter. Main causes of mortality of pre-

fledged young are starvation, severe weather events (hail,

lightning, extended periods of cold wet conditions), and

disease. Pelicans greater than 20 years old have been

documented through the recovery of bird bands. Adult

mortality is mainly due to shooting, pesticides and other

environmental contaminants, and habitat degradation.

Population Status

A nest count in 2013 found approximately 100,000 nests

at more than 55 colonies in the U.S. and Canada.

Therefore, a conservative estimate of the number of adult

(breeding age) American white pelicans is 200,000 birds.

The numbers of both adults and colonies appear to be

increasing. American white pelicans can be common to

unusual throughout their range. They occur in large

numbers in or near their breeding colonies (200 to 30,000

individuals) and at loafing sites in their wintering areas (50

to 3,500 individuals per loafing group).

Habitat

Pelicans breed and spend the summer months on remote

islands of freshwater lakes and forage in lakes, rivers,

marshes, and aquaculture facilities year round. Pelican

mean home range sizes vary from 110 to 2,927 square

miles in the summer and from 115 to 569 square miles in

the winter.

During migration, pelicans typically fly along river corridors

and valleys, but do cross deserts and mountains. Pelicans

often stop at water bodies that provide forage and loafing

sites. Pelicans readily take advantage of aquaculture sites

during migration and on their wintering grounds. While on

their wintering grounds, pelicans use sand bars, mud flats,

flooded agriculture fields, and abandoned fish ponds as

loafing sites.

Behavior

American white pelicans forage during both the day and

the night. However, pelicans in southern Louisiana and

northwest Mississippi forage primarily during the morning

and afternoon. Pelicans feed singly, in small groups (2 to

25 birds), or in large groups of more than 25 birds. When

foraging singly or in small groups, pelicans usually dip their


Figure 10. Typical shallow depression used by American white pelicans for

nesting.

bills to search for food as they swim. When cooperatively

foraging, pelicans herd their prey toward shallow water by

swimming side by side and synchronously dipping their

bills. Pelicans have been known to fly up to 190 miles from

a breeding colony to a feeding site and prefer to forage in

shallow water. Catfish ponds provide a nearly perfect

foraging environment for pelicans, due to the relatively

shallow pond depth (approximately 5 feet) and high fish

stocking densities. In one study conducted in southern

Louisiana and northwest Mississippi, researchers found

that pelicans at catfish ponds spent about 4 percent of

their day foraging and 96 percent loafing, whereas

pelicans foraging in other habitats (crawfish ponds, rivers,

lakes, and bayous) spent about 28 percent of their day

foraging and 72 percent loafing.

American White Pelicans are cooperative foragers (Figure

11). They often forage in large groups using synchronized

movements to herd and capture prey (e.g., swim in a line

and synchronously dip their bills). Pelicans use air

temperature thermals during flight to reduce their energy

expenditure. Birds flap and circle to gain altitude in a

thermal (Figure 12). Then they release from the thermal

and glide long distances, repeating the process until they

arrive at their destination.

Pelicans generally arrive at their breeding colonies during

April to May and remain through early to mid-September.

Fall migration usually takes place from mid-September

through mid-November. Pelicans occupy their wintering

areas from mid-November through the end of February.

Spring migration typically takes place March to April.

Food Habits

Pelicans prefer to forage in shallow water (1 to 9.8 feet) in

open areas of marshes, lakes, rivers, ponds, but are also

known to forage in deeper water to take advantage of prey

driven to shallower depths by diving birds, such as double-

crested cormorants. Pelicans are tip-up foragers; they do

not submerge or dive. A pelican cannot forage deeper than

it can extend its neck, head, and bill. A typical pelican can

easily reach to 3.3 feet below the surface of the water.

Pelicans typically feed on fish, crawfish, and amphibians,

ranging in size from 1.6 to 24.8 inches. To forage, a

pelican dips its bill into the water and scoops prey into its

gular pouch, then raises its bill above its head to swallow.

Pelicans prefer to forage for schooling prey but will forage

for dispersed prey. Pelicans forage twice a day, eating an

average of 1.2 pounds per foraging trip. Researchers,

however, have recorded a pelican eating as much as 6.8

pounds in a single foraging event.


Figure 11. Foraging pelicans. Figure 12. Pelicans riding thermals.

Legal Status

In the U.S. and Canada, American white pelicans are

protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The

MBTA makes it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import,

export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale,

purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests,

or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid

permit issued pursuant to federal regulations.

As authorized by the MBTA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (USFWS) issues permits to qualified applicants for

the take of depredating birds. The Department of Interior,

USFWS, Division of Migratory Bird Management develops

migratory bird permit policy, and the permits themselves

are issued by USFWS’ Regional Bird Permit Offices.

The USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services (WS) program

recommends that managers of aquaculture facilities take

the following steps to resolve damage by migratory birds.

(1) Contact the appropriate wildlife biologist employed by

WS in your region of the state. The state office of the WS

program may provide assistance.

(2) The wildlife biologist will evaluate your complaint and, if

necessary, conduct a site inspection to identify the

migratory species of concern, estimate the number of

migratory birds, estimate damage, and document other

information.

(3) The wildlife biologist will recommend nonlethal wildlife

damage management techniques. If existing nonlethal

methods are not effective, the wildlife biologist may

recommend lethal control and provide information on the

maximum number of birds that may be killed. The biologist

will attach this information to a completed USFWS Federal

Fish and Wildlife License/Permit Application or

Depredation Permit (Form 3-200) and mail it to the Special

Agent in Charge in the appropriate USFWS Regional Office.

The client pays a fee (currently $100) to cover

administrative costs. The wildlife biologist will provide

details, including the appropriate addresses.

(4) A self-imposed turnaround time for the issuance or

rejection of depredation (kill) permits by the USFWS is

approximately one week, providing the permit application

is complete and no unusual legal or environmental issues

are involved.

Note: Actions taken against a depredating bird species to

protect a crop vary from state to state and region to region.

In recent years, as the number of aquaculture-related bird

depredation complaints have risen, USFWS has increased

legal action against individuals violating the MBTA. Due to

the severe legal consequences of violating the MBTA,

individuals should be aware of all these factors and follow

the proper permit process before taking action against

depredating species.



Acknowledgements

Figure 1. Photo by Tommy King, USDA-Wildlife Services



Figure 4. Photo by Paul Gorenzel, University of California-Davis



Figure 7. Photo by David Pereksta, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Figure 8. Photos by Tommy King, USDA-Wildlife Services

Figure 9. Map by The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology


Figure 11. Photo by Tom Koerner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service


Disclaimer

Wildlife can threaten the health and safety of you and

others in the area. Use of damage prevention and control

methods also may pose risks to humans, pets, livestock,

other non-target animals, and the environment. Be aware

of the risks and take steps to reduce or eliminate those

risks.

Some methods mentioned in this document may not be

legal, permitted, or appropriate in your area. Read and

follow all pesticide label recommendations and local

requirements. Check with personnel from your state

wildlife agency and local officials to determine if methods

are acceptable and allowed.

Mention of any products, trademarks, or brand names

does not constitute endorsement, nor does omission

constitute criticism.

Keywords

American white pelican, Aquaculture, Control, Depredation,

Disease, Exclusion, Harassment, Life history, Pelecanus

erythrorhynchos

Citation

King, T. 2019. Pelicans. Wildlife Damage Management

Technical Series. USDA, APHIS, WS National Wildlife

Research Center. Fort Collins, Colorado. 14p.

Glossary

Asynchronous Hatching: When the eggs in a clutch hatch

over several days instead of all at once.

Colonial Nesting: A large group of nesting birds that may be

made up of one or two species all nesting within close

proximity of one another.

Loafing Site: A place were birds rest, often preening

themselves.

Pyrotechnics: Flares or cartridges fired from a gun or

launcher that produce a loud blast or scream accompanied

by smoke and a flash of light.

Roost: Location where birds rest or sleep either during the

day or at night.


Resources

Glahn, J.F. and D.T. King. 2004. Bird Depredation. In Biology and Culture of Channel Catfish. Eds. Craig Tucker and John

Hargreaves. Elsiver, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Johnsgard, P.A. 1993. Cormorants, Darters, and Pelicans of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.,

USA.

King, D.T., J.D. Paulson, D.J. LeBlanc, and K. Bruce. 1998. Two capture techniques for American white pelicans and

great blue herons. Colonial Waterbirds 21:258-260.

King, D.T. 2005. Interactions between American white pelicans and commercial aquaculture in the southeastern United

States: an overview. Waterbirds 28 (Special Publication) 1: 83-86.

Knopf, F.L. and R.M. Evans. 2004. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), The Birds of North America

Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://

bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/057 doi:10.2173/bna.57.

Mott, D.F. and F.L. Boyd. 1995. A review of techniques for preventing cormorant depredations at aquaculture facilities in

the southeastern United States. Colonial Waterbirds 18 (Special Publication 1):176-180.

Appendix Page 14

Type of Control

Available Management Options

Egg and Nest Oiling of eggs

Addling or puncturing eggs

Removing nests and eggs

Exclusion Overhead wires

Electric fencing

Netting

Frightening

Devices

Propane cannons, pyrotechnics, and other noise making devices

Bright spotlights

Harassment by people on foot, all-terrain vehicles, boats or other vehicles

Habitat

Modification

Drain water from flooded fields that serve as loafing sites

Plant perennial woody vegetation to eliminate open wetland sites

Repellents None available

Shooting Centerfire rifles or 12-gauge shotguns using non-toxic T-shot or BBs; Requires proper federal and state

permits

Toxicants None available

Trapping Modified padded-jaw foot-hold traps and rocket nets; Requires proper federal and state permits

Damage Management Methods for American White Pelicans

Documents

American - aphis.usda.gov...Around-the-clock harassment patrols may be necessary especially where pelicans forage at night. The most effective technique involves harassing the birds